Blood Donor and Blood Request Services at City-Level PMI UDD Offices Open for 24 Hours

Blood donor service is now can be accessed for 24-hour in five administrative cities, namely in East Jakarta PMI Blood Donor Unit (UDD), West Jakarta PMI UDD, West Jakarta PMI UDD, West Jakarta PMI UDD, South Jakarta PMI UDD, and Jakarta PMI UDD Office on Jl. Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta.

We are worried the pile up of people may cause a new cluster

Jakarta PMI Public Resources Head, Syarifudin conveyed, city-level UDD operates 24 hours from August 5, 2021. This policy is implemented not only to optimize service for the community, but also to prevent COVID-19 transmission clusters at Jakarta PMI UDD offices due to high demand for blood and convalescent plasma.

"Jakarta PMI office serves about 300-500 people a day during the pandemic, while we have limited space in the office," he stated, Monday (8/9).

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According to him, it takes 45 minutes to process request for convalescent plasma donor, while 5-10 minutes for regular blood bag request.

"This usually triggers long queue and often happens from morning to dawn. We are worried the pile up of people may cause a new cluster thus we think we need to take this policy," he asserted.

He explained that although blood donor and request can be done at city level, but blood quality check is carried out centrally at Jakarta PMI office. Once it meets the requirements, blood will be sent back to city-level UDD.

"Donated blood must have a good quality, it should be checked and declared free of four diseases, namely HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis bacteria," he mentioned.

The 24-hour blood services in UUD at city level, he continued, are considered more effective since it can save time and transportation cost for donors and residents in need.

"We will add skilled human resources and implement work shifts because blood services at city level are opened for 24 hours. There are three shifts at Jakarta PMI office, as well as in our area. We also hire new workers by empowering volunteers," he informed.

Generally, he added, Jakarta PMI needs 1,200 blood bags a day to serve blood needs in 200 health facilities, such as hospitals and polyclinics. However, there is only around 200-300 blood bags a day due to pandemic.

Due to limited blood donors and stocks, number of hospitals submitted requests for blood to nearest PMI. In addition, direct or substitute blood donations are expected to be carried out at city-level UUD according to hospital directions.

"Patient's family can donate general blood and convalescent plasma by bringing substitute donor from their family who has the same blood group as patient. Blood requests are made at local UUD according to blood request form that has been sent," he stated.

For information, here is the list of Jakarta PMI UDD offices that serve blood donors:

1. South Jakarta PMI UDD Office

Jalan Condet Pejaten No. 9A, Kelurahan Pejaten Barat, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta

2. West Jakarta PMI UDD Office

Jalan Perdana No. 12, Kelurahan Wijaya Kusuma, Grogol Petamburan, West Jakarta 11460

3. East Jakarta PMI UDD Office

Jalan I Gusti Ngurah Rai No. 77, Duren Sawit, East Jakarta

4. North Jakarta PMI UDD Office

Jalan Plumpang Semper No. 54, Koja, North Jakarta

5. Jakarta PMI Office

Jalan Kramat Raya, Senen, Central Jakarta